ACE Ambassador Spotlight: Veronica Brtek

DURHAM, N.C. - Despite international travel for The Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program (ACE) being canceled for the summer of 2020, the ACE Program has multiple past participants who continue to demonstrate the values ACE taught them as part of being an ACE Ambassador. This week, we highlight Veronica Brtek.

In February 2014, Duke's Board of Trustee's, chaired by Duke alumnus David Rubenstein, traveled to Palo Alto, Calif., and met with officials from Stanford to determine opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions. The challenging schedules of student-athletes, which make participating in off-campus activities such as study abroad programs difficult, was identified as an issue the two universities could work together on in order to develop a solution, leading to the genesis of ACE. The ACE program was officially announced in Spring 2015.

Recent Duke graduate and member of the cross country and track & field team, Brtek traveled to China in 2018 as part of the ACE Program.

"ACE provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will allow me to serve others while also challenging me to grow as an individual," Brtek said. "Through this [experience], I will be able to experience a new culture, create lasting memories, and leave a positive impact on a community."

Brtek's past experiences with service included volunteering alongside her team at the Ronald McDonald House and serving community meals with Urban Ministries. During her undergraduate career, she was a member of Athletes in Action, a Christian student-athlete group. She also advocates for greater inclusivity for LGBTQ student-athletes by participating in Athlete Ally.

ACE in China provided the perfect opportunity to serve a community while also allowing her to learn a great deal about the Tibetan region's rich culture. Brtek's experience in China continues to reshape how she approaches situations, and it helped her make a bigger commitment to serving the Durham community. She also continues to stay engaged globally, as she worked in both Guatemala and Uganda. She keeps in close contact with the other participants from the ACE program, and she continues to use what she learned to better herself, her team, and her school.

"This experience was one of the most amazing things I will likely ever do," Brtek said. "It has taught me so much and allowed me to meet so many wonderful people, so I want to do what I can to help others have the same experience."

Brtek is looking into global health related masters degrees and research programs with the hopes of better preparing herself to pursue a PhD.

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